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FG not unmindful of unemployment, poverty – Minister

The Federal Government is not unmindful of unemployment and poverty situation in the country, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said on Tuesday.
Such problems among others structural conditions which are responsible for violent extremism in the country are being addressed on daily basis by the administration of President Mohammadu Buhari, the Minister added.

The Minister made the remarks at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, while delivering a keynote address at the public presentation of Policy Framework and National Action Plan For Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA.

Alhaji Mohammed said for instance the Anchors Borrowers Programmes has created over 6.3 million jobs for farmers through rice farming.

Listing the achievements of the present administration, the minister said the federal government served no fewer than 246.4 million meals to primary school pupils across 20 states under the National Home Grown School feeding programmes.

He said 10.27 million children have been enrolled in schools in the Northwest and North Central zones of the country in the last one year.

He said the N-Power programme which has engaged and deployed about 200,000 Nigerians would increase with about 300,000 this year following the steps of government to expand the programme.

Read Also: Minister to face House panel over breach of waiver policy

According to the Minister the Boko Haram terrorist group has been decimated and put on the run by the nation’s military due largely to President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership and political will which served as morale booster for the troops.

Said he: “Thanks to the leadership and political will demonstrated by President Muhammadu Buhari, which has served as a morale booster for our gallant men and women in uniform, Boko Haram has been decimated and put on the run by our gallant military.

“The record of success is there for all to see: At least 30,000 hostages kidnapped by Boko Haram extremist group, including women and Children, have been rescued by the military. More than 100 Chibok girls have so far been rescued.

“The government is committed to the safe return of the remaining Chibok girls while rehabilitating and reuniting them with their families and communities. Sambisa Forest has become too hot for Boko Haram and they are now escaping to neighbouring communities.

“Boko Haram is no longer able to carry out organized attacks. They hold no territory and their flag, which they were flying in Bama and other territories they used to occupy, has become a shroud”.

The Minister assured that his ministry would parner with all critical stakeholders to ensure the smoth implementation of the policy framework and action plan against violent extremism in the country.

He said as a soft approach towards tackling the current security challenges in the country, the administration would engage critical stakeholders in dialogue aimed at finding lasting solutions to the problems of herder/farmer conflicts, among others.

He added that government is taking a bold step to recharge the Lake Chad Basin which has shrunk by 90 percent since 1963, stressing that the holistic approach of government on the Basin would make lives more bearable for people within the area whose economic activities have been affected negatively.

In his remarks, the National Security Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, Major General Babagana Monguno , said following President Buhari’s directive on the implementation of the framework on the 24 August 2017, it was therefore expidient to make a public presentation of the document to enable key stakeholders and principal actors key into its goals and objectives.

He said the framework which is in tandem with international laws and best practices adopted a whole-of-government and a whole-of-society approach for maximum benefits.

“Accordingly, it encourages the active participation of line ministries, departments and agencies as well as critical stakeholders from the different sectors of the civil society such as reliogious actors, youths, teachers, women and community based organisations.

“It provides a National Plan of Action at Federal , States and local government levels to ensure the delivery of targeted intervention that are both PCVErelevant and PCVE-specific”, General Monguno said.

February 13, 2018
Lalong sends three names of commissioner-nominees

Barely a week after he dissolved the entire cabinet, Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau on Tuesday forwarded three names to the House of Assembly for confirmation as commissioners.

Among those nominated is Yakubu Datti who served as information commissioner under one of Lalong’s predecessors, Joshua Dariye

Others are Mr Luka Madaki and Chris Ahmadu.

Read Also:‘How we keep Lalong on his toes’

Speaker Peter Azi, who read out the names to his colleagues during plenary on Tuesday in Jos, said that the governor’s communication was in accordance with section 195 of the 1999 constitution as amended.

The News men reports that the lawmakers later agreed to screen the nominees on Feb. 14.

Lalong had dissolved the entire cabinet on Feb. 8 and thanked the 17 commissioners for their contributions to his administration.

NAN

February 13, 2018
World Radio Day: Obaseki lauds inventors

The Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has extolled the inventors of radio, whose diligent scientific researches, he said “resulted in the small audio box that has transformed the lives of billions of people across the world.”

Obaseki gave the commendation on Tuesday in commemoration of the United Nations World Radio Day, marked on February 13, each year.

“The transformational power of the radio is awesome. It has contributed significantly to governance across the world, mobilising people in the grassroots to embrace the policies and programmes of government while providing the platform for the listener to contribute to governance and social debates. Its ability to convey messages to millions of heterogeneous audience members far flung from one another makes the mass medium of communication unique,” he said.

The governor noted that in many instances, the radio was the first source of education for millions of people and has proven to be a reliable electronic companion that broadcasts entertainment materials and transmits cultures from one generation to the other.

He explained that with the advancement in information and communication technology sector, “there is need for stakeholders in the sector to expedite work on media convergence to enable media owners harness the associated benefits.

Read Also: Obaseki mourns death of general Shagaya

“In this regard, the Edo State Government is repositioning the state-owned broadcasting station, Edo Broadcasting Service and the Nigerian Observer, for efficient delivery of quality media contents.”

He added: “Our aspiration is to adopt best practice in the management of our media enterprises, cutting-edge technology and well trained and motivated workforce in the state’s broadcast and print media enterprises in line with the demands of the information age.”

On the theme of the 2018 World Radio Day “Radio and Sports,” Obaseki said the year promises a lot of magical moments with the forthcoming soccer mundial, the World Cup, which will offer loads of entertainment to soccer fans who will assemble around the radio, especially in rural and peri-urban areas to enjoy live broadcast of the Russia 2018 World Cup.”

According to the United Nations, Radio is specifically suited to reach remote communities and vulnerable people: the illiterate, the disabled, women, youth and the poor, while offering a platform to intervene in the public debate, irrespective of people’s educational level. Furthermore, radio has a strong and specific role in emergency communication and disaster relief.

On this year’s theme, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) calls on all radio stations around the world to showcase the beauty of sports in all of its diversity.

“Let’s celebrate the traditional sports that connect us to our cultural heritage, the grassroots sports that anchor us within our communities, and the inspiring stories that challenge gender stereotypes and cover, equally, both men’s and women’s sports events” the organisation said.

February 13, 2018
Court sentences man to death for killing wife

An Ikeja High Court on Tuesday sentenced one Katungi Phillips to death for stabbing his wife, Justina James, to death for allegedly infecting him with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Justice Raliatu Adebiyi, sentenced Phillips after finding him guilty of murder.

“The prosecution was able to prove by cogent circumstantial evidence that the defendant intended to kill the deceased.

“I hereby find the defendant guilty of the murder of Justina James.

“In view of the mandatory sentence for murder in Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011,the defendant, Katungi Phillips is hereby sentenced to death, may the Lord have mercy on his soul,” Adebiyi said.

Adebiyi, in her judgment rejected Phillips defence of provocation.

The judge said that the multiple stab wounds inflicted on Justina by Phillips were excessive in comparison to the single stab wound the convict sustained.

Adebiyi said that based on the evidence before her, the defence of provocation was not plausible and that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt

According to the prosecution led by Mrs O. R Ahmed-Muili, the convict committed the offence at 3.21 a.m. on July 26, 2014 at his residence at Pako House, Oniru, Lagos.

Ahmed-Muili said that the convict, who had been married to Justina for two-years, stabbed on her body with a kitchen knife after discovering that she had allegedly infected him with HIV.

Read Also: Court jails two men six months each for stealing

“After discovering that she had allegedly infected him with the virus, the deceased threatened to leave him for another man.

“He stabbed his wife with a kitchen knife during the ensuing argument and he also attempted to kill himself by stabbing himself in the abdomen with the knife,” she said.

The police arraigned Phillips on Feb. 8, 2016.

The prosecution called four witnesses, three police officers and the sister of the deceased to testify during the trial.

Insp Alexander Onoja, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) during his testimony at the trial said that the defendant confessed to the police to have stabbed his wife.

“He confessed that he murdered his wife because he discovered they were both HIV positive and he was infected through her.

“He alleged that she informed him that she was leaving him for another man,” he said.

The IPO said that when the police visited the crime scene Justina was already dead.

He said police found Phillips laying beside her corpse with a knife wound to his abdomen.

Philips, however, in his submission during the trial, using the defence of provocation, said his wife was stabbed while they were arguing over his missing mobile phone.

“We were arguing over my missing phone, she stabbed me with the kitchen knife, I grabbed the knife from her hands and stabbed her once,” Phillips told the court.

February 13, 2018
DPR seals 15 filling stations in Akwa Ibom

The Department of Petroleum Resources ( DPR ) in Akwa Ibom state has sealed 15 petrol stations for diverting and selling Premium Motor Spirit(PMS) above the government approved pump price of N145 per litre.

The Operations Controller of DPR (Eket field), Mr Tamunoiminabo Kingsley-Sundaye disclosed this to reporters yesterday after surveillance operations by the department across major towns.

He said that DPR sealed the filling stations last week across locations such as Eket, Ikot Ekpene, Obot Akara and Uyo.
He alleged that many filling stations after getting the products from Calabar depot take the same to non-existing stations in remote areas.

Kingsley-Sundaye said that any filling station found guilty of diversion would pay a fine of N6 million to government purse or pay N200 per litre of the quantity of product loaded from the depot.

The DPR boss decried that some marketers take their products to far remote areas, where such stations had been abandoned for a long time.

He said that DPR had written to depot at Calabar to stop releasing products to non-existing and abandoned filling stations in the state.

Read Also: DPR slams CDHR for alleged impersonation

“We have challenged all filling stations in the state to produce evidence that they are in full operation within 48 hours, while anyone that default will be blacklisted from the depot list,” he said.

He however warned depot owners not to sell petroleum products above ex-depot price to marketers in the state.

He appealed to Marketers not to dispense petroleum products above government approved pump price to the public.

Kingsley-Sundaye said the department had begun intensive monitoring of stations to ensure that they reversed their pumps to dispense petrol at N145 per litre.

He said that any marketer, who contravened government price regime would be sanctioned appropriately by the department.

February 13, 2018
JAMB gives candidates 24hrs to complete registration

…..Vows to prosecute mysterious ‘snake’ that swallowed N36m

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has given 24 hours to candidates who have obtained their pins to complete their registration.

The board gave the advice in a statement to announce the close of sales of forms for this year’s unified tertiary matriculation examination.

According to the statement issued by its Head of Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, on Tuesday, in Abuja, the board noted that it would not entertain any complaints from candidates who fail to complete their registration exercise.

He said the extension applied to candidates who had initiated registration processes and had paid and procured the registration e-pins but could not register at the closed of sales.

The statement reads: “Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board wishes to inform the general public that the sale of 2018 UTME application is closed.

“However, the public is urged to note that all candidates who paid and obtained pins and could not unsuccessfully register at the close of sale are allowed to quickly within 24hrs complete their registration as no complaints would be entertained afterwards

“For purposes of emphasis, this applies to only candidates who had initiated registration processes and have paid and procured the registration e-pins but could not registered at the closed of sales.

“Take note that candidates are not to generate any profile codes (55019) for the purpose of 2018 UTME registration as doing so would have no effect and a waste of time and resources. Profile codes generation through 55019 will only be used for Direct Entry Registration which is still ongoing.

“The Board commenced the sale of the 2018 UTME registration on the 6th of December, 2017 and was to close on the 6th of February, 2018 but extended to 11th of February, 2018.

“At the close of pin vending, a total of 1,662,818 candidates paid and obtained the e-pins while 1,650,547 had successfully registered for the 2018 UTME. The difference are the numbers outstanding who have not registered but are holding the e-pins and are now allowed to register within 24hrs.

Meanwhile, the board has vowed to unravel, arrest and prosecute the alleged mysterious snake which allegedly swallowed N36 million in one of its offices in Benue state.

The board also promised to deploy it resources to bring to book any of its officers or stakeholders who is caught in any activities not in line with its policies.

“We are not going to take lightly our fight against corruption no matter who is involved.

“On the snake issue, the board maintain that there is no hiding place for any form of crime to thrive in the running of the board’s activities.

Read Also: JAMB sells 1.6m 2018 UTME forms

“We are going to unravel, arrest and prosecute this alleged mysterious snake, just as we are going to bring to book any of our officers or stakeholders who is caught in any activities not in line with the board’s policies.

According to the statement, the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, has discovered some of its officers who have misappropriated funds belonging to the agency in its state offices.

Benjamin said the board would not leave any stone unturned in its effort to stamp out corruption in its activities.

“Another of such cases uncovered by the Oloyede management led team is that of a state officer who also failed to give account of monies realized from the sales of the card but rather claimed that he was on his way to return some unsold scratch cards when he was involved in a car crash and the car was burnt with the cards.

“He had claimed that all the cards then got burnt in the process, just as he failed to account for those sold before the ban on the use of scratch cards.

“We are out to carry careful scrutiny of government funds, as well as block all leakages and loop holes. We will not condone or hide any act of misconduct, no matter how uncomfortable or unpleasant it may be to the board or any stakeholder.

“We have deployed machineries that fights corruptions, infractions, and admission malpractice, financial misappropriation in a total and comprehensive manner.

“There will be no sacred cow, be it a staff of the board or any stakeholder partnering with the board.

“In JAMB, we have nothing to hide. We run an open door system where the public must have an unfettered access to information, be it positive or negative, whether in the present or past.

“The fact remains that the officer in question in our Benue office and many others found in similar situations in some other states had diverted the fund before the assumption of office of the current Registrar.

“But, be that as it may, management is working assiduously to arrest and hand over to the appropriate quarters, this “snake” that swallowed our N36 million and a host of others still in our system,” the statement added.

February 13, 2018
Lawmaker donates drugs to enhance healthcare in Lagos

A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Prince Adebisi Yusuff, on Tuesday donated immunization drugs for use of children in the state.

Yusuff, representing Alimosho Constituency I at the Assembly, donated 1, 200 bottles of chewable Albendazole (400MG) containing 1,000 tablets each.

According to our reporter, a total of 1.2 million doses for children under age five were given to the Lagos State Ministry of Health.

The lawmaker, who made the donation through his Foundation – ‘Prince Hope Turns to Reality’ in collaboration with Vitamin Angels, a US-based organization, said he was concerned about quality healthcare of the people.

Yusuff said children remain the hope of the society and their healthcare should be the priority of all.

“We should do everything for our children. This is the third edition of the donation and it is for the children of Lagos State.

“This is my area of interest; I am interested in the health of the people and this gesture will outlive me.

“It will be continued by my children in my memory after my exit from the world as my legacy.

“This is not about politicking; it is about passion for a healthy society. We must think of how to improve the health of our people.

“Drugs for pregnant women are coming. Last year, we carried out 400 major surgical operations free of charge and we shall do it again this year,” he said.

Yusuff, the Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts (Local), said that provision of standard healthcare services should not be left in the hands of the government alone.

Read Also: Study in Holland Fair holds in Lagos

The lawmaker, a former Chairman, Ipaja/Ayobo Local Council Development Area, said his commitment to quality healthcare delivery made him to establish Primary Health Centres (PHC) as a council boss.

According to him, the PHCs have now turned to mini-general hospitals.

He urged the ministry to make effective use of the drugs and give them to the expected beneficiaries, advising residents to take their health and that of their children very seriously.

Receiving the drugs, Dr Folashade Oludara, the Director, Family Health and Nutrition, Lagos State Ministry of Health, said the lawmaker’s intervention had assisted the state in its deworming exercise.

“This is not the first time the foundation of Prince Yusuff will be assisting children under age five. We appreciate this kind and philanthropic gesture.

“Every parent or care giver must ensure that her children complete various kinds of immunization before they clock the age of one.

“All these vaccines are to guard against childhood killer diseases. We implement deworming exercise twice a year.

“If you deworm children, their body will be able to assimilate nutrients, they will grow better and they will be able to kick against all those childhood killer diseases,” Oludara said.

The director, who noted that deworming was very important and expensive, said each bottle of the Albendazole was not less than N8, 000.

She said that the state government was committed to reducing maternal and child mortality, assuring the people that the ministry would continue to support anybody who bring succour to the vulnerable.

Oludara said if other well-meaning Nigerians would toe the line of Yusuff, the healthcare system in the country would improve.

In his remarks, Mr Sulaiman Jelili, the Chairman of Ipaja/Ayobo Local Council Development Area, commended Yusuff for his belief in the people and their healthy living.

“It is uncommon to see lawmakers donating drugs worth millions of naira to cater for the immunisation of N600, 000 children.

“Hon. Bisi Yussuf has been affecting so many people, especially in the area of health, by bankrolling surgical operations and giving out free drugs,” the council chairman said.

NAN

February 13, 2018
Anambra commences assessment of Skill Acquisition Centres

The Anambra Government has commenced assessment of all the Skill Acquisition Centres in the 21 local government areas across the state with a view to equipping them properly.

Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, Special Adviser to Gov. Willie Obiano on Youth Empowerment and Mobilization, disclosed this to our reporter in Awka on Tuesday.

Ibezim said the assessment was to get firsthand information about the facilities and equip them for immediate training of youths interested in skill acquisition.

The governor’s aide said the exercise was aimed at empowering youths in the state to be self-reliant.

Read Also: Anambra appoints 100 Justices of Peace

He said that the Gov. Willy Obiano-led administration was totally committed to improving the living standards of the citizenry, especially youths, who had shown interest in their economic development.

Ibezim urged the youths to endeavor to acquire skills to boost their daily income for sustainable livelihood.

The special adviser also enjoined them to shun social vices and acts capable of marring their future.

He further tasked residents of the state to always protect government’s facilities in their various areas against vandals to ensure their sustainability.

February 13, 2018
#BBNaija: Khloe, Dee-One Clash

Head of House Khloe and Dee-One got themselves in hot exchange of words on Tuesday morning in the Big Brother Naija House.

Khloe had called all housemates out for a meeting, waking them from their sleep, and it got Dee-One very angry. He asked Khloe in anger why she woke all housemates, and further accusing her of not having manner of approach when she retorted by asking whether he came to the Big Brother House to sleep.

Another Housemate, Angel then attacked Dee-One for being disrespectful to Khloe, saying that she is the Head of House and that she has the right to call for a meeting at any time. This led to further brawl between the two men.

After Vandora’s intervention, the housemates met separately, before a sudden call from Big Brother to freeze, while the Ninjas changed the ropes tied to some housemates, with the pairs bound to each other for the next 24 hours.

Big Brother further announced that the change meant that housemates are only to communicate with their paired partner for the next 24 hours

Read Also: BBNaija: Real evictions begin Sunday

Recall that Khloe emerged the Head of House after winning the HoH challenge over Bam Bam and Ifu Enada.

With all the 20 housemates still in the competition, the first real evictions take place on Sunday, February 17, 2018, when two pairs are expected to leave the house.

February 13, 2018
Valentine celebration generates public debate

The observance of Ash Wednesday and celebration of Valentine’s Day on Feb.14 has generated mixed feeling among a section of Nigerians.

According to our reporter, the Ash Wednesday is the ceremony to commence the Lenten period and entails fasting and abstinence from eating meat while Valentine’s Day is a day set aside to celebrate Love.

The two celebrations coinciding on Feb. 14, 2018, has generated discussions by people on the propriety to celebrate Valentine’s Day in the usual way or not.

A cross section of residents in Mararaba, Nasarawa State believes that the two events coinciding on the same day was something special.

A Catholic priest, Rev. Father, Eugene Irobmez, said Nigerian Churches should focus on Ash Wednesday, to mark the beginning of lent, the time of reflection and penitence.

According to Irobmez, the two events first coincided 60 years ago, when Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday were celebrated on the same day.

Irobemz said that the tradition of the church was that the Ash Wednesday surpassed every other day, because it was a day of obligation.

“It is a day of obligation when Christians are encouraged to fast and abstain from meat, a day of obligation supersede Valentine’s Day.

“Valentine’s Day is not a feast of solemnity, but it is a memorial day; a day to be remembered. So, in this case, solemnity supersedes Memorial Day,’’ the priest said.

Irobemz explained that Ash Wednesday was the beginning of lent, an official day Christians fast, asked for forgiveness of sin and a day of soberness.

He, however, noted that valentine could be celebrated any other day.

“Since it is a day to show love, showing of love can be celebrated any other day like on Sunday because we do not usually fast on Sundays.

“You cannot reconcile a sober period with a day of celebration; when a priest gives ashes to people, it signifies that you should remember that we are dust, unto dust we shall return.

“The life we have now is temporal, there is a final destination for everyone, which we have to prepare for, because the day is close,” Irobemz said.

Meanwhile, some residents told our reporter that the coincidence in the double celebration was a setback describing Ash Wednesday as a day of abstinence.

Read Also: Valentines: Talking love at the executive level

Mr Tony David, a resident said, “We are not allowed to eat meat that day and with the Valentine celebration of showing love, eating meats and drinking is the main thing.

“As a Christian, my religious obligation is supreme for me to make heaven. I will just sacrifice the love for meat this valentine.

“However, I know that next year, Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s day will not fall on the same day,’’ he said.

Miss Maria Michael, a student of Nasarawa State University, said she would celebrate the Valentine’s Day in a special way in spite of the fact it was the beginning of lent.

“I already know that Ash Wednesday is a day to remember that we are ashes and to ashes we shall return, but eating good food to be alive is also necessary.

“I will not lie; I am going to eat chicken that day with my boyfriend because that is the only opportunity that my guy will take care of me in special way.

“He can also fast any other day but on that Feb.14 it will be something different because the environment will be filled with love and we have to flow with it,’’ she said.

Mrs Chioma Jude said that Ash Wednesday happens to be a day of fasting, when you seek the face of God and asked for pardon.

“Such day cannot be sacrificed for anything not even Valentine; one can still celebrate love any other day with his or her loved ones,” she said.

Mrs Esther Daniel said “as for me, my husband and I will go and receive our Ash in the morning and later in the evening we will celebrate our Valentine’s Day because of the necessity.”

NAN

February 13, 2018